Improvement in book-rack



drifted gratta @tout attire'.

Leim-s Patent No. 97,003, dated Not-mbar 16, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOK-RACK.

The Schedule referred to in these Lettera Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. TIBBrrs, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Book-Racks for Pews, Snc.; 'and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, makinga part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a front view of a book-rack, made according to my invention.

Figure 2, a vertical transverse section, taken in the line a: :t of tig. l.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section of the same, taken in the line z z of iig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts lin all the figures.

The object of this invention is to provide a bookrack for pews, Sac., from which the books may be taken, when desired, with greater facility and convenience than is possible with the racks of ordinary construct-ion.

The invention consists in the construction of a bookrack, with a hinged front, so arranged, that in the removal of the book, the front may move outward, to facilitate such removal, and then be returned to its place, to cause the rack to assume its normal appearance and condition. ,f

The invention also consistsin certain novel means whereby the' more eiiicieut operation of the principal feature is secured.

VTo enable others tounderstand the construction and operation of my invention, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the drawings. p,

A represents the body or box-portion of the rack, of rectangular or other suitable form, and with its back, a, attached, in any appropriate manner, to the back or portion ofthe pew to which book-racks or receptacles are ordinarily applied. y

The front b is attached to the forward edge 'of the bott-om of the body A, by hinges at The ends of the front b are connected with the ends of the body A, by straps c of-1ndia rubber, or any equivalent elastic material.

These straps tend to draw the front snugly back, to close the forwardside of the body, as represented in iig. 2, but also permit the front to be forced or tilted forward, as shown in fig. 3.

When the front is brought back to the closed position -inst hereinbefore indicated, as represented in fig. 2, the elastic straps c are situated in recesses, provided therefor in the forward portions oi' the ends of the body, being thereby connected, and kept out of the way of injury.

The body may, when desired, be divided into two compartments, by a transverse partition, indicated in dotted lilies at f, in iig. 1. l l

Each of these compartments is furnished with a cover, g, hinged, at its rear edge, to the adjacent edge of the top-piece m of the compartment.

One or both of Athe covers g may be furnished withl a stud, a', which, when the Vcover is turned forward and downward, passes over a catch, E', actuated by a spring, c', the cover being by this means heldin a closed position.

In order to release the cover from the catch, pre.- liminary'to raising the cover, it is only necessary to press inward, upon the contiguous portion ofthe front b, as, for instance, at f.

In removing a book oi* booksfrom the rack, the cover being firstraised, as just mentioned, to open the rack, it is only necessary to lit't the volume, with the more or less forward movement of the saine, which will naturally occur in any`attempt to thus take the volume from the body A. VVhereupon, the front b, yielding to the pressure of the volume, permits its ready removal, without any injurious contact, or even momentary interference with the outward movement thereof.

As soon as the volume has .been thus removed, the elastic straps c bring the front back to its original position, thus causing the rack to have the appearance of one made in the ordinary manner.

It will befseen, that by this'construction lof the rack,

it possesses all the convenience which would belong to one made with a wide or flaring upperportion, withnone of the nnsightliness which would be incident to suoli a form. i

What is here claimed` and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

rlhe book-rack for pews, composed of the body A, hinged and br\vardlytilting front b, elastic straps o, cover or covers g, hinged to the top-piece m, and furnished with a stud or studs, a', to operate in conjunction with a spring-catch or catches, b', the whole arranged as and for the purpose herein set forth.

' JAS. 1. TIBBITS.

lVitnesses FRED. HAYNEs, HENRY PALMER. 

